Profiles

Mary Saunders, Q.C., is one of the new appointees to the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Although born in Vancouver and appointed to the Bench from the Vancouver firm of Campney & Murphy, her character was formed by her upbringing and schooling in Valemont and Merritt; her soul belongs to the interior of the province. She continues to travel back to Nicola Lake where her mother maintains a home and to Kamloops where her brother and his family reside. In fact, Mary was one of the boosters of the Coquillaha Highway to Merritt …

Just a dozen years after hanging out her shingle in Maple Tree Square, Jo-Ann Prowse was appointed to the County Court of Vancouver in December of 1986.

T.E. (known to everyone as Terry) La Liberté is the incoming President of the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association. A long time B.C.A. “groupie”, Terry practices predominantly in criminal and some civil litigation with his law firm, La Liberte Rich. Terry began life in Ste. Catherines, Ontario. He thought better of this at a relatively early age, however, and relocated with his family to New Westminster where his father was a barber …

The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C., C.C. was the first woman to hold the distinguished position of Chief Justice of Canada. Her vision for Canada reflected her adept interpretation of Canadian constitutional law and her groundbreaking decisions and rulings, which significantly contributed to the evolution of our country.

Patricia Colleen Connor was born January 20, 1950 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. She moved when very young to Vancouver with her mother, her sister Jeannie, and her aunt. Graduating first from Sir Winston Churchill High School, then UBC Law in 1974, she was called to the bar the next year, in 1975.

Madam Justice Linda Ann Loo obtained her law degree from UBC in 1974, and was called to the Bar in 1975. She was practicing law as in-house Counsel for BC Hydro from 1975 to 1986, before becoming an associate (and later, a managing partner) with the law firm Singleton Urquhart, where she stayed from 1986 to 1996.

Madam Justice Mary Victoria Newbury practised principally as a corporate commercial lawyer. However, she was best known as a "lawyers' lawyer". At both her former firm, Ladner Downs, and her last firm, Fraser & Beatty, her partners looked to her when they were confronted with legal problems of exceptional difficulty. Her vast legal knowledge, her superb analytical skills and her ability to reach a conclusion speedily were renowned.

“I grew up in, well we called it ‘Haney’ in my day, it became Maple Ridge Later. It was a district in Maple Ridge but it was compromised of Haney, Hammond … I grew up there and went to Maple Ridge High school. I graduated in 1959. My dad was in shoe repair until he passed away in ’88. He was working still, he passed away from a heart attack. My mother was the owner of a fabric store – she co-owned the fabric store for years. I  was the eldest of four, I had two brothers and a baby sister. I was involved… In those days, I was like everyone else.

Mexico City, October, 1968. It’s the year of the Fosbury Flop, the first doping tests, the first woman to light the Olympic cauldron— and all at 2,240 metres above sea level. Olympic and world records are set and broken and broken again in the rarefied air: long jump, high jump, triple jump, pole vault and sprints. But for the middle- and long-distance runners, the altitude has the reverse effect. “It was a huge factor,” says Trerise, the memories flooding back. “The feeling is that you just want to lie down and go to sleep.

Rick's practice has focused on criminal defence, and his professional life's work has been rooted in the firm belief that defence counsel fulfills a vital function in society. It is a role that can be carried out in a way that not only serves the client, but also befits a noble profession and enhances the administration of justice. He speaks frequently and passionately about the importance of an independent bar, civility and professionalism, and he practises what he speaks...

Climaxing several years of participation in Canadian Bar activities, James Dimitri Vilvang becomes President of the B.C. Branch of the Canadian Bar Association at the next annual meeting in August at Montreal. Jim, well known in athletic circles in British Columbia, was born in Vancouver in 1950 but grew up in New Westminster and attended New Westminster High School …

Although Jack enjoyed the practice of law, his real love was the world of politics. At Jack's funeral, his brother told the story that when Jack was a youngster his mother commented that one day he would be the Prime Minister of Canada. Jack did not make it to Ottawa, but many regarded Jack as the "Prime Minister of Terrace". In 1979 Jack became a councillor for the City of Terrace and remained in that position until he was elected as mayor in 1985. He remained in the position of mayor until 2008 and in so doing became one of the longest serving mayors in British Columbia.

Trudi L. Brown, QC graduated from UBC’s law school in 1973. She is a family law litigator, mediator, and arbitrator based in Victoria, BC. After being called to the BC bar in 1974, Ms. Brown worked at the BC Crown Counsel office in Victoria for 4 years. In 1978, she started her own firm, Buckler Metzger Brown and Miliken. She formed another firm, Brown and Kay in 1984, which went on to become Brown Acheson Henderson - better known as “Broads on Broad Street.” From 1988 to 2001, Ms. Brown worked at Horne Coupar. She now practices family law at her firm Brown Henderson Melbye.

The Honourable David J. Brine (1948 – 2009) obtained an undergraduate degree in 1970 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1973, from UBC. He also obtained a Master of Laws from King’s College at the University of London. Known in the legal profession for his fairness and patience, Justice Brine led a distinguished legal career. In 2000, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel, and on April 20, 2001, he became Master of the Supreme Court of British Columbia. He was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia on November 26, 2004.

When asking the Honourable Justice Grant D. Burnyeat - past AMS President and UBC Alumni Association President, six-year member of UBC Senate, founding Director of the Allard Law Alumni Association, and former Chair of the Dean’s Reunion Advisory Committee for the Allard School of Law - what motivates him to remain so active in the law school and university community, he replies with a simple, “I guess I am a joiner.”

Rose Mok first came to Canada in 1953 from Hong Kong, having been accepted as a foreign student by the University of Toronto. After a series of relocations in devotion to her husband Henry's career, the Mok family finally settled in Vancouver in the 1960s.

I was delighted to be asked write a few words about my classmate Robert Metzger, who assumed the position of Chief Judge of the Provincial Court on February 1, 1995. As you may know, “metzger” means “butcher” in German. Despite this, the North American branch of the Metzgers and His Honour have absolutely no acquaintance with that particular occupation. In fact, His Honour showed an aversion to bovine by-products which are from time to time evident in his courtroom ... 

After receiving his LLB in 1973, Professor Robin Elliot, QC, returned to the Allard School of Law in 1976 as Assistant Professor, after he was called to the Bar of BC in 1975. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1983 and to Professor in 1991. He has written extensively in the area of Constitutional Law, including works on both the Charter and Canadian federalism, and adjudicated cases under provincial and federal human rights legislation. During his fruitful career, he has been involved in the litigation of several important Charter and other constitutional cases.

In federal law, he has a remarkable distinction: he helped to draft the first and only amendment to Canada’s Constitution. Locally, he helped start a 40-year tradition at the law school that still requires no studying or exams. Sure, up until a few years ago, you might have found cases involved, but they were the kind that held beer. His memorable contribution began with a ramp, water and a kiddies’ pool...

In 1973, Robert S. Angus graduated from the law school at UBC and was called to the BC Bar in 1974. He carried on a global mining practice until 2003 when he retired from the Law Society of BC. For more than 40 years, Mr. Angus has focused on the structuring and financing of significant international exploration, development and mining ventures.